help me evaluate this 1990's Gary Fisher Tassajara

I have someone who wants to buy this and is low-balling me, for sure. Last time he bought a bike from me, I bent over and let him get away with far too little, and I won't this time. I'd like to get an idea of what I should ask for this. I tried to show the frame sticker, but it came out blurry. It says hand made of double butted cro-mo tubing. This bike is surprisingly light, especially considering how big it is.

He wants me to change the stem to something shorter in both vertical and horizontal dimensions. Not unreasonable, though it will cost me materials and time. He's offering $155, which is beyond absurd. I'm thinking more like $200-$300, perhaps more. This is no ordinary bike.

Anyone know what year it is and what it might have sold for? I'm guessing it's from around 1995.

Thanks!

I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter. --Blaise Pascal

It looks like a 1997 [2]. The frame might be all right, but nothing attached to it seems remarkable in any way.

I'm thinking you are on the high side (especially with the perhaps more), but if it's mechanically overhauled (and maybe fresh tires), it's hard to argue it's not worth somewhere in that ball park compared to what is available new.

If I had that bike around here and was offered $155, the money would evaporate from the buyers hands before he knew it. If you can get that or more, more power to you.
BTW, I had a pristine 1998 model last year and sold it for $120. I had a really nice example of the desirable 1997 HooKooEKoo with front SUS, sold it for $150. I could have gone a little higher on the HooKooEKoo, but it went to someone who knew what he was getting so I cut him a little slack. Still, $200 would have been pushing it.

$150 +/-, and I would gladly change out the stem as long as I had one in stock. I haven't seen a 1990s MTB yet break the $200 mark (certainly a high end Bridgestone and a few others would), and one with Alivio drivetrain would not be it. Bike only sold or $450 retail new. $200 would be approaching half of MSRP. I sold a higher level 1997 Gary Fisher myself earlier this year, all STX components, triple butted cromoly frame, really clean, $165.

Every market is different. I have sold quite a few MTBs in the last year. Only a modern Trek (2005) sold for over $200. But your market could support more. I would use your own sales data as a guide.

Problem solved. He decided the bike is too big. I didn't want to sell it to him, anyway. He's buying it for his son in law.

He's buying another bike I have, and he offered me an agreeable price.

I'm grateful to all of you.

My own sales data are still too few to show trends, especially with mountain bikes. I sell a lot more road bikes. I see mountain bikes depreciate more, plus they're falling out of fashion, so I tend to avoid them.

I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter. --Blaise Pascal

Mountain bikes sell just fine around here...maybe it's a city vs rural thing? A lot of people want thick tires and/or suspension for pot holes, curbs, etc. I sold my 1998 Cannondale f-500 for $400 without much trouble.

Mountain bikes sell just fine around here...maybe it's a city vs rural thing? A lot of people want thick tires and/or suspension for pot holes, curbs, etc. I sold my 1998 Cannondale f-500 for $400 without much trouble.

I am certain I could have gotten $200 for that bike.

I need to move back to Philly. Or at least load up my SUV with bikes and hang out on a street corner and sell them off the back of my SUV. I've got a early 90's TREK 8500 with full LX and a working Rock SHox suspension that I'll be lucky to get $150 for down here. Sounds like it would move out up there for over $200. Crazy.

+1 Good branded ready to ride MTBs around here sell anywhere from $100 to $175. At the $175 mark, it needs to be something really special, in great condition, with top components. I have sold quite a few in the $125 range. Needless to say, as a flip, you better have some cheap donor parts and pick up the bikes really cheap, or there just isn't anything in them for your time.